Ahmed al-Sharaa, rebel leader who toppled Assad’s regime, declared interim president of Syria | N18G
Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, became Syria’s interim president after leading the offensive that toppled Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Born in 1982 in Damascus to a wealthy family, al-Sharaa’s radicalization began after the September 11 attacks. He joined al-Qaeda in Iraq, fought under Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and was later detained by U.S. forces. In 2011, he founded Al-Nusra Front, which later became Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group tied to al-Qaeda. Despite being labeled a terrorist by the U.S., al-Sharaa distanced himself from al-Qaeda in 2016 and rebranded HTS as a nationalist entity. In recent years, he has adopted a more pragmatic approach, promising inclusive governance and women’s rights, while also adopting a more moderate public image. His past leadership of HTS, known for suppressing dissent, has raised concerns about his ability to govern effectively and fairly in post-Assad Syria.